Coin collecting box for parking meters and the like



Oct. 22, 1963 J, LAVlANA 3,107,847

COIN COLLECTING BOX F OR PARKING METERS AND THE LIKE Original Filed July 7, 1959 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. LAWRENCE J. LA VIA NA ATTORNEYS Oct. '22, 1963 L. J. LAVIANA 3,107,847

COIN COLLECTING BOX FOR PARKING METERS AND THE LIKE Original Filed July 7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i as 3o 30 '1 III 35 INVENTOR. LAWRENCE d. LAV/A NA WW7, WM 3 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,107,847 COIN COLLECTING BOX FOR PARKING METERS AND THE LIKE Lawrence J. Laviana, Kensington, Conn, assignor to M. H. Rhodes, Inc., Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Original application July 7, 1959, Ser. No. 825,474, now Patent No. 3,069,073, dated Dec. 18, 1962. Divided and this application Feb. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 175,670

3 Claims. (Cl. 232-16) This invention relates to coin collecting apparatus for parking meters and the like and more particularly to an improved coin box included in the coin collecting apparatus and forming a component part of the parking meter or the like. This application is a division of my parent copending application Serial No. 825,474, filed July 7, 959, now Patent No. 3 69,073, issued December 18, 1962.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of an improved coin box for parking meters or the like having a door that is externally operable by coin collecting devices of the type disclosed in my above-identi- -fied application; and that can be securely and effectively locked.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved coin collecting box which is economical to manufacture and incorporate into parking meters and the like, easy to operate and which substantially reduces the opportunity for pilfering of money therefrom.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing a coin collecting device and a parking meter, the latter incorporating my improved coin box;

FIG- 2 is a front plan view of a first embodiment of my improved coin box with a portion of a parking meter shown in phantom;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross section taken along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross section taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a partial cross section view similar to FIG. 4 showing a second embodiment of my improved coin box.

Referring to FIG. 1 which illustrates a coin collecting device for use in collecting coins from a parking meter, it is seen that a parking meter is provided with a coin box 12 mounted on pedestal 13. The coin collecting device designated generally as 15 includes a coin container 17 mounted on a cart having wheels 18 and handle 19 so that the coin collecting device can be conveniently pushed from meter to meter to permit the coin receiver or collecting head 20 to be engaged with the coin box to allow coins contained therein to drop through flexible tube 2-2 into container 17.

Referring first to the coin box structure shown in FIGS. 2-5, it is noted that the meter 10 has a base provided with a rear wall 26, side walls 27 and 28, bottom wall 29 and a removable front cover or wall 30 secured to side walls 27 and 28 in a conventional manner. The basic coin box construction, i.e., the side, bottom, and back walls, is of conventional rectangular construction such as is found in most existing metering installations today. To accommodate my improved coin collecting apparatus in an existing meter, a false bottom or coin deflecting plate 32 is mounted in coin box 12 and a modified front cover 30 is installed in place of a conventional flat cover to provide a bottom aperture 34 toward which the coins collected in the coin box are urged by the slope of bottom plate 32. Of course, such facilities can be provided as original equipment in the meter.

As most clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, front cover 30 has a generally arcuate portion 31 which extends outwardly at a slightly inclined angle from the lower edge 35 of bottom 32 and a generally that inwardly sloping front portion 33 in which is mounted the lock mechanism 38. Aperture 34 is closed by door 36 which is secured by screw fasteners 37 to the inner end of lock mechanism 38 so that rotation of the lock with the appropriate key causes pivotal movement of door 36 to open and close aperture 34. For ease and reliability of operation, door 36 is provided with a transverse angularly extending web or coin stirrer 36a so that rotation of door 36 in a counterclockwise direction to open the door forces the coins out of the path of the door to facilitate its opening movement and stirs the coins to ensure that they drop through aperture 34.

In the alternate embodiment of my improved coin box illustrated in FIG. 5, the door 39 is pivotally mounted on the inner end of lock mechanism 38. End plate 40 is fastened to the end of lock mechanism 38 by screws 37 which pass through slots in door 39 and is provided with a radially extending arm 42 which extends into slot 43 (dotted lines FIG. 5) in locking bar 44. Locking bar 44 is mounted on the leading edge of door 39 (during opening movement) for sliding movement relative thereto by screw fasteners 45 which pass through elongated slot 45a. Groove 46 is provided in arcuate portion 31 of cover 33 adjacent aperture 34 in a position of alignment with end 49 of bar 44- when aperture 34 is closed by door 39. Rotation of lock mechanism 38- in a counterclockwise direction causes arm 42 to move upwardly in slot 43 until it reaches end wall 47 at which time looking bar 44 is raised out of groove 46 and moved upwardly until the lower end wall of slot 45a engages lower fastener 45. A positive driving connection is then established between lock mechanism 38 and door 39 to permit movement of the door in the opening direction. Closing of door 39 reverses the operating procedure.

Referring to FIG. 1 taken in conjunction with FIGS. 25, it is seen that (the coin receiver 20 is provided with a housing 69 having a substantially flat front face or wall 61 and side walls 62 and 63 which overlie the outwardly extending portion of the coin box. That is, front face 61 overlies front face 33 of the coin box and positions plunger 65 in alignment with lock 38 when bottom wall 31 of front face 33 is engaged by rounded shoulder portions of the receiver side walls. Side walls 62 and 63 cooperate to define a generally tubular passageway which communicates with aperture 34 in the coin box and with flexible tube 22 and coin container 17. A more detailed description and illustration of the coin collecting device 15 and its cooperation with my improved coin box can be found in the above-identified parent application.

The foregoing description of my improved coin box structure clearly illustrates the effective provision of an outwardly opening door for a coin box so that coins contained in the coin box will fall by the force of gravity through the door when it is opened. By the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, I have provided a mechanical lock which effectively prevents forcing of the door and which does not depend upon the mechanical strength of the lock mechanism itself.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure above described will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for collecting coins from parking meters and the like Comprising a coin box having an outwardly facing opening therein through which coins fall by gravity, a key-operated lock mounted in said coin box, a rotatably mounted door closing said opening, a slot formed in the wall of said coin box adjacent said opening, a locking bar slidably mounted on said door for engagement with said slot when said door is closed, drive means interconnecting said locking bar, said door and said lock whereby rotation of said lock causes said bar to be raised from said slot and said door to be rotated in sequence, a coinreceiving head enclosing said opening and overlying said lock, said head having a first aperture therein aligned with said lock and a second aperture therein communicating with a coin collecting container, a handle mounted for rotation with said first aperture, and a key mounted in said second aperture for rotation with said handle, said key being engageable with said lock to permit opening of said door by said handle.

2. In a coin box for a parking meter or the like,the combination comprising an outwardly facing aperture, a key-operated look, a rotatably mounted door, a groove formed in the wall of the coin box adjacent said outwardly facing aperture, a locking bar, means slidably mounting said bar on said door for engagement with said groove when said door is in the closed position, a ra diaily extending arm on said lock engageable with said locking bar whereby rotation of said key-operated lock causes said'radially extending arm to lift said locking bar out of said groove, and means establishing driving engagement between said lock and said door after said bar is raised from said groove thereby to rotate said door relative to the opening in said coin box.

3. In a coin box for a parking meter or the like, the

combination comprising an outwardly facing aperture, a key-operated look, a rotatably mounted door, a groove formed in the bottom wall of the coin box adjacent said outwardly facing aperture, a locking bar having a first slot formed therein, a fastener extending through said first slot into the leading edge of said door in an opening direction, said bar being positioned to engage said groove when said door is in the closed position, a second slot in said locking bar positioned adjacent said lock, a radially extending arm fastened to said lock and extending into said second slot in said locking bar whereby rotation of said key-operated lock causes said radially extending arm to lift said locking bar out of said groove, and means establishing driving engagement between said lock and said door after said bar is raised from said groove thereby to rotate said door relative to the opening in said coin bOX.

No references cited. 

2. IN A COIN BOX FOR A PARKING METER OR THE LIKE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING AN OUTWARDLY FACING APERTURE, A KEY-OPERATED LOCK, A ROTATABLY MOUNTED DOOR, A GROOVE FORMED IN THE WALL OF THE COIN BOX ADJACENT SAID OUTWARDLY FACING APERTURES, A LOCKING BAR, MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTING SAID BAR ON SAID DOOR FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID GROOVE WHEN SAID DOOR IS IN THE CLOSED POSITION, A RADIALLY EXTENDING ARM ON SAID LOCK ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID LOCKING BAR WHEREBY ROTATION OF SAID KEY-OPERATED LOCK CAUSES SAID RADIALLY EXTENDING ARM TO LIFT SAID LOCKING BAR OUT OF SAID GROOVE, AND MEANS ESTABLISHING DRIVING ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID LOCK AND SAID DOOR AFTER SAID BAR IS RAISED FROM SAID GROOVE THEREBY TO ROTATE SAID DOOR RELATIVE TO THE OPENING IN SAID COIN BOX. 